Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



March 9, 1926. l

' F. ocoNNoR FRICTION SHOCK ABSQRBING MECHANSM Filed May '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,Traag/1,221y

J. F". OCONNOR l FRICTION sHocK ABsoRBING mscmmsr'af-fv "if March 9,1926. -,1",517s,1o9"

Filed May '7' 1923 f Fig? 4 Lg 5f] 7295 ,M 'i l W 565 L wmflazfwf r Patented aan 9, i926.

unirse!4 stares :estelar oF-1F1cs.

JOI-IN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, LLINOS, AsSGrllR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

W. n. Minna, Inc., n conronarron or DELAWARE.

Application Ie. May '7, 199,3. Serial No. (337,168.

To all 07mm 'it may conce/m.:

lie it known that I, JOHN F. OiGoNNon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of illinois, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Friction Shock-Absorbing Mechanisms, of which the following` is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being;` had to the accompanying drawings, forming' a part lof this specification.

This invention relates to friction shocl; absorbing mechanisms.

@ne object of the intention is to provide a friction shock absorbingmechanism,espc cially adapted for railway draft riggings and wherein are obtained high capacity and certain and easy release.

More specifically, an object of the vinvention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated, having a plurality of friction elements which possess and combine the characteristics of both friction shoes and wedges proper, and wherein said elementsA are so formed and arranged as to produce a. heen wedgzine; effect, a blunt releasing` effect, aud a safety valve feature to prevent injury to the parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willmore clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following'.

ln thc drawings forming),` a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal, .lengt tudinal, sectional View of a portion of a railway draft ringing. showing my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. front elevational View of the friction shock absorbing lmechanism propel'. Fig. 3 is a Vertical., transverse, sectional View of the friction shock absorbing mechanism proper corresponding to the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. And Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan View of a deif'elopment, of the combined friction shoes and wedges, looking at the outer side of the same.

ln said drawings .-10, denote the usual draft sills of a car under-frame, to the inner faces of which are secured frontstop 11.245 ll rear stop llugs 1 2; The inner is af end portion ofthe draw-bar is indicated at j, the saine being operatively associated with the shock absorbing mechanism proper by a hooded cast yoke 14, Iwithin which are disposed the shock absorbing mechanism and the front and rear followers 15 and 16.

The yoke and parts therein are supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 17. The mechanism is of that character employing a combined shell and spring cage of cylindrical form throughout and in order to maintain it in a central position,V

the inner faces of the draft sills have secured thereto, guide plates 18-18.

The friction shook absorbing mechanism as shown, comprises broadly, a combined friction shell and spring cage casting A;

anannular series of four con'ibined friction surfaces 21, each extending` through an arc of approximately 90, said cylindrical surfaces converging inwardly of the shell and extending at comparatively acute angles with respect to the axis of the mechanism. The casting A has the spring cage portion 2O thereof formed with a transverse rear wall 22 adapted to co-act with the rear follower 16. l V

ris shown, ll employ four combined friction shoes and wedge elements B, C, D and E, of like construction, two of them extending in one direction and the other two in the opposite direction, and alternated as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4C. Each of the combined friction shoes and wedge elements is provided with a pair of oppositely extending, annular vwing portions 23 offset inwardly with reference to ther-main portion of the element and arranfred inv circular alinement, and an outer cylindrical friction surface 24- corresponding ,in VVcurvature -to @ad QQ-@etes with .0.11 Qf lt-leerla@ friction surfaces 2l of the shell. rl`he elements B and D are also provided with in* wardly projecting, transverse, central, annular flange 124, for a purpose hereinafter described. Each of the elements B and D is cut away at the inner end thereof to provide wedge faces and 2G and flanges 2T and 28 respectively, and the wing portions 23 thereof are formed with transversely eX- tending outer wedge faces 29 and 30. rlhe faces 25 and 29 of the elements B and D coincide with helical surfaces inclined at relatively keen angles with references to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism, and the faces 2G and 3() are also helical, but eX- tend at a relatively blunt angle with reference to the axis of the mechanism. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4t, the flanges 27 and 2S of the. elements B and D are adapted to be overlapped by wings 23 of the elements C and The element C is cut away on the inner side thereof, to provide converg'ing` wedge faces l29, and annular flanges 3l at the front end, and the wings 23 of the element C are provided with convergina` edge faces The faces 129 and 125 are corresponding-ly inclined to and co-act with the faces 29 and respectively, of the elements B and D.

The element E is also cut away at the inner side of the forward end to provide converging we-"lge faces 1250, correspoudingly inclined to` and (fo-acting' with the wedge faces il() of the elements B and l), and annular vflanges 32. The wings 253 of the element lil are formed with converging side edge faces 126, correspondiugly inclined to and (fo-acting; with the wedge faces 26 of the elements B and D. The flanges 3l and 32 of the elei'ncnts C and l@ are adapted to overlap the adjacent wing-js 23 of the elements l and D. .trs clearly shown in Fig. et, the wedge faces 125 and 12) of the elementi C are connected by a Straight portion 3,?) and the wedge faces 2S) and of the elements B and D are connected by a straight portion ill. rThe straight wall portions il?) and it of these elements are normally spaced apart a slight distance to permit the necessary relative movement of the elements il., D and E during' the wedging action, and to permit outward movement of the element ll -to compensate for wear of the wedge faces. ylfhe shoes il, C, l) and ll together yet accomplish the desired result, but the same are preferably inclined 450 and 30G, respectively, with reference to a longitudinal line.

rlhis spring` resistance F preferably consists of an outer heavy coil and an inner lighter coil. The retainer bolt H extends centrally through the spring resistance l*1 and a suitable openingl in the spring cap or follower' G, and has the rear end thereof anchored in the rear wall andthe front vend thereof anchored to a disc adapted to The operation of theI i'nachanism is as follows, assuming an inward or buting more nient of the drawbar. As the latter moves inwardly, the front follower l5 will be moved therewith and pressure will be transmitted to the outermost friction elements B and D. Due to the keen wedge-actingl` faces of the friction elements B, C and D, there will he an .innnediate expansion of the same to iucrease the circumference of' the entire unit constituted by said elen'ients, the element (l being` yieldingly resisted during the initial action by the spring' resistance F, through the follower or cap G.

During' this action there will he substantially no relative n'iovement between the blunt wedge-:uiting faces of the elements ll and D and the blunt wedge-acting faces of the element E. 'lhe element lil will thus be forced rearwardly relatively to the element C, thereby effecting a slight spacing1 between the latter and the spring' 'follower' cap (l. the rearward movement of the elcment (l heine; then resisted hy the friction between the Vouter surface thereof and the friction shell; this frictimial resistance hcing sutlicicntly `r1-eat to assure the proper wedgring action. the friction unit. coni- -prisingr the lements ll. (l. l) and lt), is forced inwardly ol' the shell it is obvious that friction is `generated between the outer faces of these elements and the shell friction surfaces 2l. lt. will he evident that due to the slight taper of the shell, a ditlcrential action is set up. 'llhis differential action is acconnnodated hy reason of the blunt angle of the faces 30. 126 and lilo permitting the element E to shift inv-:ardly of the shell with respect to the elements B and l). without necessitating any relative shifting tetween the elements B, D and C, .ln other llt) ltltl llt) lill) words, the cio-operating sets of faces 26 and 126, and 30 and 130 act more or less as safety valves7 to prevent undue pressure being exerted on the shell, wliile at the saine time not ii'iilitating againsty thel effective the initial release will be produced, `diie to` the contraction of the shell hereinb'efore referred to, this initial action being facili# tated by the relative bluntness of the cooperating faces 2G, 126, 30 and 180 ofthe elements B, D and E. lt will vbe evident that the two shoes B and l) are at this time, with the exception of the resistance offered by the fri-ctioii surfaces of the shell, free te nieve outwardly, dueto the front follower dropping away. The contact between the shoes C and the shoes B and D is thus breken. This initial action sailicicntly serves to reduce the pressure between the shoes and the shell te effect full release. ',lhereupon the spring resistance F is eiial'iled lo project the wedgeelenients B, C, l) and E outwardly and restoring the 4saine to normal position. It will be evident that the device will function equally well. with a single series of blunt wedge faces and keen wedge faces, in fact, the front and rear wedge faces 'at the saine side of each shoe really function in amanner similar to a singleiface. and-it is therefore within the invention to provide shoes each of which has a single continuous facev at each side thereof extending yfor the entire length of the shoe. i y

During draft, the action of the mechanisii'i will lie the reverse of that just described, the rear follower l5 and the shell being moved relatively to thefreiit follower l5, which is held stationary.

As liei'einbel'ore described, the spring il? will be placed iuider an initial compression, lso that :is wear occurs on the parts the ele-- ments C and lll may be gradually moved foi1w waidly 'io automatically compensate for wear. Y i

l have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the saine is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come witli in the scope of the claims l claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing niechanisnnthe combination with followel acting n'i'eans; of a friction" shell having interior,

appended hereto."

cylindrical friction surfaces said shell and follower means being relatively movable; a spr-ing. resistance.; and a friction system ceniiosed of a plurality of'wedge friction Y shoes arranged in annular series, certain of aid shoes being in Vdirect engagement with [saidA follower means and all of said shoes engaging said shell friction surfaces, said shoes' being provided with interengaging wedge faces certain of said faces extending at relatively blunt angles with reference to the longitudinal axis of said mechanism and the remaining faces extending at relatively keenY angles with the reference to the said axis. i

2. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanisiin'tlie combination with follower acting means; a friction shell having interior,

converging, cylindrical friction surfaces; a

spring resistance; and a friction system composed of an annular series of friction shoes, certain of said slices being in direct engagement vwith the follower means and actuated thereby, said slices directly engaging the remaining shoes, and all of said shoes having friction engageniient with the friction surfaces of the shell, some of said shoes having wedge. faces extending at rela" tively blunt angles with reference to the longitudinal axis of the n'iechanisni, andl additional wedge faces extending at relativelyY keen angles witlrreference to tlie` said axis and the others of said shoes having wedge faces correspondiingly inclined to and cooperating respectively with said blunt and said keen wedge faces.

3. 'ln a friction sliocl;v absorbing mechanisni, the conibination with a friction shell i having interior, converging, cylindrical friction faces; of a spriiig resistance; and an annular series of friction shoes 'co-acting with said shell friction surfaces, said series including, a shoe having wedge faces extending at a relatively keen angle with reference to the direction of the applied actuating foi-ce, av second shoe having wedge. faces eX- tending at a relatively blunt angle with reference to Vthe direction of the applied actuating force, and a pair of shoes cti-acting with said first and second namedr shoes, each having :i wedge face correspondingin iiicliiiation to 'and co--aclinn` willi one of lhe wedge faces vof said .first nained shoe, and afii'cdge face correspondingly inclined to and co-acting with one of llic-ii'cdge faces et' Asaid ond named shoe.

il. ln a friction' shock absorbing mecha- `nisni, the combination with follower acting annu-lar ceri s ef li fici.,.n lioes,all of said Shoes hgymg lim j V nen-t with-shell friction surfaces, alternate shoes of said series being each provided with Wedge faces extending at relatively keen angles with reference to the direction of the applied actuating force, and additional Wedge faces extending at relatively blunt angles ivith reference to said direction, said keen and said blunt faces being adapted to co-act respectively with correspondingly inclined Wedge faces on the remaining shoes of said series. i

ln a friction shock absorbing` mechanism, the combination ,vith a frictionshell having interior, conveging, cylindrical friction surfaces; ay spring resistance; and an annular series of friction shoes co-acting with said shell friction surfaces, certain of the shoes of said seriesdirectly receiving the actuating` force, said series including a shoe having keen angle wedge faces, a shoe having blunt angle Wedge faces, and additional shoes having keen and blunt angle Wedge faces co-aeting` respectively with the keen and blunt angle Wedge faces of said first and second named shoes, respectively.

(i. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a front follower; of a friction shell having interior, converging, cylindrical, friction surfaces; of a spring resistance, and an annular series of friction-shoes co-acting with said shell friction surfaces, said series including a plurality of friction shoes co-acting with the front follower and each provided With Wedge faces disposed at a relatively blunt angle with reference to the direction of the applied actuating force and additional Wedge faces disposed at a relatively keen angle with reference to said direction; and a plurality of friction shoes having Wedge faces similarly inclined to and co-acting with said blunt and keen wedge faces.

T. l'n a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a front follower; of a friction shell having interior, converging, cylindrical friction surfaces: ofaspring resistance; and an annular series of friction-shoes having co-acting wedge faces disposed at a blunt angle with reference to the longitudinal airis of the mechanism and coating ivedge `faces disposed ata relatively koen angle with reference to said axis, aliernate shoes of said series (3o-acting with the front follower.

S. ln a friction shociY absorbing mechanisrn, the combination with a friction shell having interior, friction surfaces converged inwardly of the shell; of a spring resistance; and a friction unit eo-operable with said shell and spring, said unit comprising a plu- `ality of friction elements, each co-operable `with a shell friction surface, said elements having also co-operating Wedge faces dis-- posed at a relatively blunt angle vwith reference to the direction of the applied actuating force and additional cooperating u'edge faces disposed at a relatively keen angle with reference to said direction, certain of said elements being arranged to directly receive the actuating` pressure and the remaining elements being arranged to be directly resisted by said spring resistance.

9. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior, converging, friction surfaces; of a spring resistance; a friction Wedge system co-operating with the shell, said system being composed of a plurality of elements, all of which have frictional engagen'ient with said shell friction surfaces, said elements being provided with co-acting` wedge faces, the co-acting faces of certain of said elements being disposed at relatively blunter angles with reference to the direc-- tion of the applied actuating force than the remaining Wedge faces of said elements, all of said wedge faces being disposed between the limitsof the front and rear ends of each shoe.

l0. In a friction shock absorl'iii'ig mechanism, the conibination with a friction shell having` interior, converging, friction surfaces; a spring resistance: and an expansible friction unit composed of a plurality of coacting Wedge elements, each provided with a, friction face co-acting with a friction surface of said shell, adjacent elements having cro-operable sets of engaging Wedge faces. at least one of said sets of wedge faces being disposed at a blunterfn'edging angle than another set, said plurality of co-acting wedge 'faces being arranged in at least one series` all the Wedge faces of which are intersected 'by a single, transverse plane.

ll. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination With a friction shell having interior, converging, friction surfaces; of a spring resistance; and an expansible friction unit con'iposed of a series of elements each having a friction face co-a-cting ivithone of said shell friction surfaces, alternate elements of said series being each provided with a Wedge face disposed at a relatively blunt angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism and a wedge face disposed at a relatively keen angle to said axis and the remaining elements of said series having wedge faces co-acting with the Wedge faces of said al"crnaic clements.

ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction fll having interior, converging, cylindrical frietion surfaces of a springresistance; and an annular series of friction shoes co-acting with said shell friction surfaces, said series including a shoe havinga plurality of keen wedge faces, a second shoe having a plurality of blunt wedge faces, and a pair of shoes each having both keen and blunt 'wedge faces adapted to (5o-:let with Said first with said shell 'friction surffwesjV Said shoos named koen und blunt wedge faCeS. being' provided with over-lapping Wing p01?- l-. In a frlctlon shook absorbing' mochatlons :md lnter-engagmgfWedge faces. 10

nisnn, the combination with a, friction shell In Witness that I'clam the foregoing I 5 having inferior, cylindrical, friction Surhave hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd faccia: of a spring rosiwuce; and u pluralday of rzxy 19523.

ity of annular Wedge friction shoes co-actng' JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

